Looking at new horse trailers and one of them has a ramp. I have never had a ramp before so can you all tell me the pros and cons?

Ramp or no ramp? That is the question. Lol

Ramp

Love our ramp.   The horses are easier to load and unload.  They walk up slowly and calmly; we had one that would unload too quickly sometimes, but since the ramp, he eases out.   I was afraid when we first got it about them slipping, but we have never had an issue at all.   

When I bought my Featherlite about 20 years ago I didnt think I would like the ramp on it very much, BUTTTT holy cow I will never have a larger trailer without one, I LOVE IT, I have had to haul horses with bad/hurt legs to vets and it helps so much to load them with the ramp, if I had to load them without the ramp I would have had to back up to a ditch so the trailer would be level to the ground for them to get in, jumping into the trailer would have been out of the question at the time. And I can haul my 4 wheeler or gator just drive them up the ramp and I'm done, LOL.

Ramp.. all the way! My horses load and unload so much easier now with the ramp, I feel it saves their feet and legs, I know some will disagree, but now after having the trailer with the ramp and watching them load and unload, I'll never buy another trailer without one. My "difficult " loader and unloader is now on auto pilot, loading himself and backing out nice and slow, no panic, this was the horse that always wanted to turn around in the trailer to get out. Now we untie him, open his wall and he just eases on back nice and slow not anticipating the drop off. Its made hauling a joyful peaceful experience lol!

Ramp!

Ramp

Ramp on a slant load. Stock doesn’t need it.

In addition to the previous pros mentioned, I love mine because it gets me closer up to my saddles.  When you're short, every extra inch helps.

Have had both and really like our ramp now.

Horses load and unload better.

i also like the extra layer of protection between horses and distracted drivers.

RAMP. Will never have another trailer without one. My horses hate loading up in a trailer without one now because they know when they back out it will be a rough one. 

Have had both.  Horses and I all prefer ramp.  It's been a literal lifesaver with sick/injured horses.

Only ever had one trailer with a ramp. After using it a few times I had it removed. Never had one again. And won't. 

Why? 

LOL, I was going to ask the same thing , but anyways Why jd&ez? 

Cause everyone else said "yes" to the ramp???!!!!

Yeah you cant just hit and run on us lol!!

More for the inconvenience. It was just in the way. And provided no benefit. If the good outweighs the bad you can usually live with something. But showing on friday, Sat and Sunday and usually at different places the making it harder to get in and out of the trailer doors was more inconvenience than I was willing to live with since having it provided no discernable benefit. 

When I sold that trailer I offered the ramp to the buyer. He didn't want it either. So I still have that ramp. If someone sees a benefit then by all means, have a ramp. The question was ramp or no? My opinion is no. 

God help someone having a differing opinion than the Queen Bee. Get over yourself. 

Wow... we just wanted to know why you had a different opinion like if something bad had happened with it. You were the only one who said no and never ever again so I figured something terrible had happened.... no need to be so "extra" 

LOL. nobody needs to get over anything . I dont know if you were pointing at me are Debra but dont matter, We all have our own opinions.  But you did remind me of someone on here {not you} a while back that was being a baby and she told a member to Build a bridge and get over yourself, I thought that was so funny that an adult saying something like that..

My last 2 trailers (including my current one) have had ramps and i love them. That said i also use my horse trailer for household things such as moving addresses and moving the lawnmower. Its alot easier to get a dolly into a trailer with a ramp then without one. All my horses load and unload great on it including my yearling. I have heard of one accident with a ramp but ive also seen horses fall under a trailer without one. So really its personal preferance

A couple of years ago I purchased a newer trailer -- with a ramp.... the previous trailer I owned did not have one - it was a 3-horse slant.  It was fine. All my horses stepped up and down just fine, but I downsized to a two-horse straightload because after knee surgery, a straightload with ramp is WAY safer for ME. I can 'send' my horses in much easier and unloading is easier and safer for me, too.   I have also been using this trailer to go pick up mulch for my lawn -- the guys at the store love it since it's easier for them to walk up the ramp to stack up the mulch -- and, of course, it's way easier for me to unload -- just pull my little wagon up there, pitch in some mulch and roll away down that ramp....  

I would buy one w/a ramp, but would NEVER have a ramp added.  I had mine added to it when I bought it as it didn't have one.  I absolutely HATE it.  It hooks closed different w/rubber/plastic AND gunk/sawdust/manure/etc. gets down in the litte like groove in it where it was added on, I absolutely HATE it.  You have to push/clean that all out before shutting it........If I knew I could sell it, I would have it removed in a heart beat!

My trainer told me about a friend of his that had sold his horse, big money too, 20k+ price range (that's big money to me anyway) he had the horse sold to the guy and went to get the horse out of the trailer, at the vet's,  it was a step down, he turned the horse around to walk out, horse stepped down off the trailer and bowed his tendon right there in the parking lot. Guess that's the place to do it if you're going to, at the vet's... but still... freak accidents can and will happen.. ramp or no ramp. I've heard of horses slipping off the ramp or unloading too quickly and falling off the side as well. So .... I just know I much prefer a ramp and as long as I can help it, I'll always have one on a slant load.  

That's another thing I love about our ramp---with my prosthesis it's much easier for me to get in and out and to the saddles.   (The horses know to wait for me cause it takes Momma longer to get up that ramp than Daddy!!!)

Ramps are so handy to have, helped a few friends move and boy that ramp was great, the dolly just rolled right on up the ramp.. LOL